Thank you, Madam Chair. This is another one that in almost every other jurisdiction, the federal government has created a low income internet service which allows subsidized internet. Northwestel's parent company, Bell, has offered that in many jurisdictions. Northwestel has refused to do that here, once again because they're this weird federally-regulated monopoly. But I really do believe that there's a way to leverage the $10 million a year we give them to say, hey, we want to do what your parent company has agreed to do in other jurisdictions and make an internet rate for people who have lower incomes. And I also think there's a way to probably leverage some of that through public housing. Lots of public housing in other jurisdictions now has bear minimum low bandwidth free Wi-Fi built into the buildings. Northwestel, I think, could probably offer that service. It's probably even a win for them. Their parent company has started doing it in places. So once again, I think this is really about meeting with Northwestel and leveraging the millions and millions of dollars we give them every year. Thank you.
Rylund Johnson on Committee Motion 170-19(2): Committee Report 22-19(2):Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Telecommunications - Free Access to Basic Internet Packages, Carried
In the Legislative Assembly on December 7th, 2021. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 170-19(2): Committee Report 22-19(2):Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Telecommunications - Free Access to Basic Internet Packages, Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
December 7th, 2021
Page 3304
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